Town comparison
Cowes vs East Cowes
Which is better to live in? 1.0 miles apart — compared on house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more.
The verdict
Overall, East Cowes offers lower property prices by roughly 38%. Cowes has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Cowes edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Cowes
£335,058
East Cowes
£242,362
Crime Rate
Cowes
75.7
East Cowes
75.9
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Cowes
100.0%
East Cowes
0.0%
Avg Download Speed
Cowes
468.4
East Cowes
443.5
EPC Rating
Cowes
67
East Cowes
67
Median Income
Cowes
£27,938
East Cowes
£27,938
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in South EastThe average house price in East Cowes is £242,362, which is 38% less than Cowes at £335,058. The most affordable entry point in Cowes is a flat at £253,949, while in East Cowes it is a flat at £153,618.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 65% pricier in Cowes (£253,949 vs £153,618).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, East Cowes prices grew faster — 37% vs 36%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in South EastCrime is lower in Cowes (75.7 per 1,000) compared to East Cowes (75.9 per 1,000), a 0% difference. The most common crime category in Cowes is violent-crime, while in East Cowes it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in South EastCowes has 100% of schools in the top two inspection bands, compared to 0% in East Cowes. Cowes has 4 schools in total, while East Cowes has 2.
Cowes School Inspection Breakdown
100% of 4 schools (3 primary, 1 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
East Cowes School Inspection Breakdown
0% of 2 schools (2 primary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Cowes | East Cowes |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 4 | 2 |
| Primary | 3 | 2 |
| Secondary | 1 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | 100% | 0% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Cowes offers faster average downloads at 468.4 Mbps, compared to 443.5 Mbps in East Cowes. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 97% of premises in Cowes and 94.9% in East Cowes. Gigabit availability stands at 92.2% in Cowes and 87% in East Cowes.
Cowes is the faster of the two by 6% on average download speed (468 vs 444 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Homes in Cowes are more energy-efficient on average, with an EPC score of 67 (band C) versus 67 (band C) in East Cowes. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,290 in Cowes and £1,290 in East Cowes. 54.5% of homes in Cowes have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 54.5% in East Cowes.
Cowes has more energy-efficient housing — 54.5% reach band C or above, vs 54.5% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £27,938 in Cowes and £27,938 in East Cowes. The median age is 50.5 in Cowes and 50.5 in East Cowes. Employment rates stand at 48.4% in Cowes and 48.4% in East Cowes. Owner-occupancy is 67.6% in Cowes versus 67.6% in East Cowes.
| Indicator | Cowes | East Cowes |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,366 | 8,424 |
| Median Age | 50.5 | 50.5 |
| Median Household Income | £27,938 | £27,938 |
| Employment Rate | 48.4% | 48.4% |
| Owner Occupied | 67.6% | 67.6% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 27.4% | 27.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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